‘I felt myself on the pitch today’ Returning Arsenal star revels in win over Spurs | OneFootball

Chloe Kelly made her long-awaited Arsenal return in a 5-0 North London Derby win over Tottenham, stepping onto the Emirates pitch for the first time since 2017.

After struggling for minutes at Manchester City, she pushed for a move to reignite her career and boost her Euro 2025 hopes. Now, in a squad packed with talent, she’s ready to fight for her place.

Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Chloe Kelly made her long-awaited return to Arsenal in style, stepping onto the Emirates pitch in red and white for the first time in nearly 2,800 days.

After coming off the bench in a 5-0 North London Derby demolition of Tottenham, she spoke about how it felt to be back at the club she left at 20.

“It felt amazing in front of unbelievable support today,” Kelly told BBC Sport. “Since I stepped into this club, I have felt a warm welcome. And what a game to do it in, the north London derby. I felt myself on the pitch today.

“It’s been easy to walk into this dressing room with unbelievable players and the staff.”

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Having struggled for regular minutes at Manchester City, where tensions with Gareth Taylor grew, Kelly pushed for a move in a bid to secure a place in England’s squad for the upcoming European Championships. The switch to Arsenal offers a fresh start and a chance to compete at the top level again.

“Competition for all positions is important. Going up against the best players in my position is really important for me,” she said. “I am ready to fight for my shift. It’s all about building relationships with those players that you play together with on the field. I have settled in really well and am building those relationships already. I am having fun.”

Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The transition appears seamless, with Arsenal manager Renee Slegers confirming that Kelly has already made her presence felt in training. “She has been smiling a lot in training and working really hard,” Slegers said. “She’s passionate as a person. You can see she is very happy with where she’s at.”

Her return was just one of many highlights on a dominant afternoon for Arsenal, who ran riot against Tottenham in front of 56,000 fans at the Emirates.

Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Alessia Russo continued her fine form in derby fixtures with two goals, while Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum, and Emily Fox completed the rout.

Despite a long absence from the club, Kelly looked sharp and came close to a dream return when she clipped the bar late on. While the goal didn’t come, her influence was felt, and her excitement was clear.

For Arsenal, the emphatic win kept them firmly in the race for a Champions League place, and for Kelly, it was the start of something new. A second debut, a fresh challenge, and a chance to reclaim her place at the top.

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